The Irish standard., 1887-04-09

ing violently, but he would do much to-
ward republicanizing the Kingdom. He
has no land to embarrass his course
upon the question that is fundamental
in British politics He has no pre-
judices as between creeds and churches
to make it easy for him to continue the
state props under the one or to intlict
injustice upon any other. He has no
titles to preserve, and he would expect
none, no matter what eminence he may
reach in craftsmanship. He is man
of the people, but not a revolutionist {;
and in Burke's philosophy about the
revolution of France he is said men,
tally to live a great part of the time.
His ideas about education of the COM
mon people are Diderot's. He would
not force society. but he would give it
every chance to grow. He believes in
the school room, not in the arsenal. He
was ready to oppose his own party on
the laissez faire policy which played
fast and loose so long and so fatally in
the East, and in fact did so in meas
ure, until events compelled Gladstone
to change his attitude and return to his
principles. He believes in the people.
He would give Home Rule to Scotland
and to Wales simultaneously with Home
Rule to Ireland. He would give cities
powers over corporation taxation, and
would efface shires and provinces and
all other fanciful boundaries to substi-
tute local government worked logi-
cally and symmetrically to it's conclu-
sion. In the advocacy of these car
dinal ideas of representative Govern
ment he never alienates Conservatives
by extravaganza of style nor disheartens
Radicals by shillyshallv talk. For this
reason he is looked upon as a serious
man in politics, who would permit
parties and Office and reputation and
opportunity to pass by him rather than
abandon his convictions for personal or
party gains. On the other hand he lacks
the subtle something which holds men
to a leader. He'is trusted and respected,
but his leadership belongs to more ra-
tional period than the present. His
very steadfastness is a disadvantage in
the present transitory conditions Of the
Liberal party. 1t is charged that he
held and still holds Gladstone to the
stake of Home Rule. It is charged that
but for him the ''old parliamentary
hand" would by this time have accom-
modated himself to the dissenters and
reunited the party to hurl the Tories
from power. For this reason critics are
divided about the future of John Nor
ley after Mr.. Gladstone has passed away.
Chamberlain would contest with him
and Sir William Vernon Harcourt the
nominal leadership. Possibly Lord Hart
ington would also, but the death Of the
old Duke of Devonshire cannot be far
off, and Lord Harrington will scarcely
sit in another House of Commons. If
Morley possessed any of Harcourt's
rashness and intrepidity he would be
facile preceps. But his austere manner,
his simple life, his temperance and
soberness of speech, make him too cold
for popular fancy. That he is not cold
is we'll understood. He was willing to
apply cloture upon the Parnellites in his
first parliamentary days, and his temper
over what seemed unjustifable delays
of public business was far from placid.
He has grown to feel like so many more
Engllshmen about cloture. When he
seconds Mr.. Gladstone against coercion
he will have nothing to take back or
explain. His influence upon living
politics is healthy and powerful, and
his practice on the platform during the
past year has made him an effective,
although not passionate speaker. The
Orangemen execrate him next after the
Pope. He was the first English Protes-
tant who sized them up at their full
value and frankly told them his opinion
of them. He is a staunch personal
friend of Parnell, and is one Of the few
who never shrink from openly associat-
ing with him whenever they meet. The
consultations between Gladstone and
Parnell about the Home Rule bill were
transacted by Morley.
Irish Editors in London.
The following Irishmen are connected
with the London press:
The late editor Of the Times (the most
famous Journalist in Europe), M. De-
lany, was an Irishman.
The chief editor Of the Times at pres
ent, and author Of the anti Irish articles.
Mr.. Wilson, is Corkman.
The chief writer of the Morning Ad
vertiser (Tory) Mr.. w. B. Guinel, is a
Buttevantman.